New Delhi, Sept. 12 -- Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city, is now bigger than the institutional setup which was conceived for it. According to the 2023 Census, Islamabad Capital Territory's (ICT) population stands at more than 2.36 million, with its annual population growth rate being 2.8 percent, while around 53 percent of the population is rural.

It has become not only a purpose-made federal capital but also a metropolitan territory with increasing residential zones, economic activities, universities, tech firms, peri-urban towns and needs relating to transportation, water supply, sanitation, housing and environment.

Who is Accountable?

However, the institutional framework overseeing this expanding population is fragmented, as variou...